Hold Congress Accountable

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On behalf of our activist community, I urge you to contact your senators and ask them to support the Earmark Elimination Act, S. 2330, introduced by Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.). The bill is co-sponsored by a bipartisan group that includes Sens. Mike Lee (R-Utah), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Rand Paul (R-Ky.), and Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.). The Earmark Elimination Act would make permanent the temporary moratorium on congressional earmarks put into effect in 2010 by creating a point of order against any provision within a bill that matches the definition of an earmark, and when raised would be stricken absent a two-thirds majority to override.

Thanks to the historic tax reform passed by congressional Republicans at the end of last year, the economy is booming. Even better, the job market is exploding, and fewer workers are receiving unemployment benefits than at any point during the last 44 years.

The federal government shutdown at midnight on Saturday because the Senate was not able to pass a spending deal. Both the House and Senate were in session on Saturday and Sunday. Members from both parties in both chambers spent time blaming each other for the shutdown. House and Senate Democrats also spent a lot of time on the floor blaming President Trump.

With all the talk about a possible government shutdown due to an impasse on immigration reform, no one seems to be paying attention to a story of even bigger long-term consequence. Congress is preparing a two-year budget that blows past bipartisan spending caps to the tune of $216 billion through 2019. These are the latest stunning tallies from an analysis by Congressional Quarterly. (See chart).

Rep. Darrell Issa’s (R-Calif.) retirement announcement marks another instance of a growing trend. More and more Republican lawmakers are retiring after this legislative session — some to seek higher office at the federal and state level, some to private-sector ventures, and some simply out of a desire to be at home and with their families.

Not long after the 2016 presidential election, House Republicans entertained a rule change proposed by Reps. John Culberson (R-Texas), Mike Kelly (R-Pa.), Mike Rogers (R-Ala.), and Tom Rooney (R-Fla.) to bring back earmarks. The rule change, which likely would have passed if allowed to proceed, was quashed by Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), who felt that reviving the practice sent the wrong message after a “drain the swamp” election.

As Congress nears another deadline this Friday for funding the government, a lot is on the table in terms of what could be included in a deal to increase spending across the board. Whether Congress is forced into a partial government shutdown or it chooses to bunt the issue another few weeks or so with the fourth continuing resolution of this fiscal year, the spending issue will have to be addressed in the near future.

FreedomWorks President Adam Brandon made the following statement regarding reports that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is considering skipping budget reconciliation, throwing away the best chance to further a conservative agenda this year.

On behalf of our activist community, I urge you to contact your representative and ask him or her to support the No Congressional Vehicle Leases Act, H.R. 4510, introduced by Rep. Rod Blum (R-Iowa). The bill would prohibit the use of congressional funds to pay for long-term or expensive vehicle leases for members of Congress.